SV Photography
By Sarah Mace
Peter’s Project, owned and trained by Michael Ferraro, took his longshot odds of 23-1 straight to the winner’s circle on Monday afternoon after upsetting Finger Lakes’ featured $50,000 Genesee Valley Breeders’ Stakes under jockey Jose Gutierrez.
Breaking from post four in a field that was scratched down to six after the defection of Mark Twain, Peter’s Project got out of the gate with the vanguard, navigating the clubhouse turn between Four Directions (10-1) to his inside and fellow 18-1 longshot Winston’s Chance to his outside.
In the backstretch Peter’s Project took back to sit a stalking trip behind the developing duel between Four Directions and Winston’s Chance as the opening half-mile went in 47.94.
Winston’s Chance won the battle with Four Directions, and gained a solo lead in the far turn, but did not win the war.
Peter’s Project navigated the far turn three wide, more than a length behind Winston’s Chance and gained steadily on his rival in the stretch. The gelding took over in the final strides to post a half-length victory. After a minute in 1:38.33, Peter’s Project stopped the clock at 1:45 flat for 1 1/16 miles over a fast track. Testostertone (2-1) finished 3 1/2 lengths back in third, followed by 3-5 favorite Hit It Once More, Four Directions and Ferraro-trained stablemate Sundae on Sunday. [VIDEO REPLAY]
Peter’s Project paid $49 to win. The $1 exacta returned $231, and a $1 trifecta paid a whopping $793.
Bred by Stonewall Farm, Peter’s Project is a 7-year-old gelding by former New York-based sire Anasheed. His dam Hurricane Betsy is an unplaced Kentucky-bred mare by Quiet American who has produced four winners from four foals to start, including stakes-placed One More Act (Patriot Act).
Peter’s Project finished fifth in both the 2014 and 2016 runnings of the Genesee Valley Breeders’ Stakes and, in his only other foray into stakes competition, finished third in the $26,800 Fio Rito Stakes in 2015. The veteran’s first black type win improved his record to 13 wins, six seconds and four thirds from 33 career starts and boosted his bankroll to $237,835.
